mark.waltz
This grabs you right away even before Dame Shirley Bassey starts singing the title song over the credits, probably the most beloved Bond theme ever. "Shocking!", Sean Connery says after dispatching one villain in the most sizzling death scenes, and that's within the first few minutes. He'll have his hands full as he takes on the most notorious of all Bond villains, a vile man obsessed with Gold and able to turn a woman into gold, literally suffocating her to death. Connery finds himself at the mercy of that character, played with delicious malevolence by Gert Frobe. At one point, the use of gold gets a little to hot as it nears a very precarious place on Connery's body.Then there's the character of Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) who works as Frobe's pilot and could literally be out to un- Bond 007. Another villain is a silent Asian strongman, who like the much later Jaws (Richard Kiel) opposite Roger Moore seemed unbeatable. The battle of the will and strength between the two is often both chilling and funny. Even as bizarre and far fetched as these can be, that often makes them even better. And we all know nobody does it better!
elvircorhodzic
GOLDFINGER is an action thriller, the third in the James Bond series, in which the secret agent 007 tries to stop a crazy and rich tycoon in his intention to set up a radioactive bomb inside Fort Knox. It is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming.The producers have refreshed and enriched a concept with excellent plots and cruel villain. Mr. Bond is surrounded, through a new concept, with a high-powered car and tricky gadgets. Of course, beautiful women circle around our charming agent. However, unlike the first two films, exotic, luxury and lustful games are reduced to a reasonable level. All this has changed the character of the main hero. Mr. Bond is more convincing and more serious in this film.The pace and direction is in the hands of villains. Mr. Bond is somewhat at a disadvantage. His charm and seductive skills do not affect a pilot who has an interesting name. However, we know that he will save, on a heroic way, with a little luck, this situation at the end, however, his position is not promising. The tension has a new dimension in the James Bond series. Therefore, this film offers more action and adventure compared to an exotic melodrama and love farce.Sean Connery as James Bond is a charming and cool hero. He tries to "pull the brakes" when it comes to women, which further enhances his charming performance and occasional jokes. However, sharing love with attractive blondes in exotic places is stronger than him.Gert Fröbe as Auric Goldfinger is a brutal psychopath who seems to have all the trump cards in their hands. He is a villain, who is ready for anything at any time. Mr. Fröbe has offered a good and convincing performance.Their support are Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore) as a frigid and capable Goldfinger's personal pilot and leader of an all-female team of pilots known as Pussy Galore's Flying Circus. Pussy will succeed to resist the charm of secret agent 007. Well, at least for a while. Harold Sakata as Oddjob is a sinister as a Goldfinger's lethal Korean manservant. His specific movement and a method of killing are very interesting. Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson it a pleasant sight for sore eyes. Too bad she has quickly "painted" out.
stormhawk2018
The first of four Bond films directed by Guy Hamilton, and by far the most iconic entry among critics and fans. Pretty much all the Bond movie clichés started right here!! Great theme song by Shirley Bassey, contains some of the most memorable scenes of the franchise (Do you expect me to talk?), fantastic gadgets, and Bond has some truly funny one-liners. The whole affair really feels like a 60's pulp-thrill comic book brought to vivid life, and I mean that in the best sense possible. However, with all these elements that surely make Goldfinger an entertaining flick, why is it I don't LOVE this entry as much as everybody else does? I think it comes down to two critical things: 1. Despite her outrageously hilarious name, I find Pussy Galore to be the most over-hyped Bond girl of all time. Outside of her name, I just find her to be a bland, unremarkable character and don't get me started on the infamous barn scene. 2. The second act, in which Bond is a prisoner of the title villain, is a bit too slow-paced and nearly grinds the whole affair to a dead halt. The fact that the whole second-half of the movie takes place in America doesn't help matters (I find pretty much all the Bond movies that take place in America to be boring) Don't misunderstand, I do enjoy this movie and I do appreciate it's importance to the franchise, but it doesn't even break my personal top ten Bond entries.
ElMaruecan82
Here's a little test: think of "Dr. No", which images immediately come to your mind? I suspect it's a tie between bikini-clad Ursula Andress making her iconic entrance in the beach and the first shot of James Bond, lighting his cigarette with that cool and deadpan expression while introducing for the first time the classic "Bond. James Bond." And now, just think of a third image. You might have many shots and lines flooding over your memory but to call them iconic would be a stretch. Now, do exactly the same test with "Goldfinger". What images come to tout mind? Is it Bond in white tuxedo looking at the exotic dancer while lighting a cigarette (and something else in the process) or is it Bond wearing that blue polo in Miami Beach and introducing himself to Jill Masterson (a shot featured in Spielberg's film "Catch Me If You Can")? Is it the first shot at the Aston Martin, Pussy Galore or Auric Goldfinger playing cards or briefing about his plan? Speaking of Goldfinger, maybe it is the opening song, the staple to all James Bond opening credits? Or that shocking sight of a dead woman painted in gold? Or how about a special drink ordered by 007 in a plane? I can go on and on, from the deadly hat trick of Oddjob, the mute Korean right- hand man, the car chase or the classic laser pointing at perhaps Bond's most vulnerable spot."Goldfinger" is just full of unforgettable images, one after another, that all contributed to build the legend of 007, if "Dr. No" was the starter, this one is the sure thing, the one you can show to someone who never saw any James Bond. It just creates the perfect 'bond' with old or new fans, now what is the secret? I think the secret is in the title; the film is as much about Bond as it is about the villain, wonderfully played by Gert Fröbe. One of the most common tropes about Bond is that the villain's identity is revealed a bit later but "Goldfinger" follows the principle that a story is as good as its villain. Auric Goldfinger, the man with the deadly Midas touch, is a rather mundane and not intimidating gold investor, but beware of his hubris, this is a businessman who means business. The first scene shows him cheating at cards and it says a lot about him, he wants to get rich the easy way, and it's not about the quantity but the value, too. So, we clearly see from the first shocking death what this man is capable of to whoever steps in his territory, and it's surprising how many times Bond is actually disarmed by Goldfinger or his henchmen. But you know the pattern of Bond movies, Bond never dies and the villain never kills him whenever he has the opportunity, the trick is to make it believable, and for some reason, if Goldfinger isn't immune to the villain's monologue accusation, the fact that he was painted as a three-dimensional character makes it believable that he'd rather keep James Bond prisoner and show off about his clever high-scale plans, than killing him and leave his secret plan unknown. And you can tell how delighted Bond is to tickle Goldfinger's ego and let him reveal more of his scheme. In fact, you can also tell, that Connery has fun playing Bond, after two performances, he mastered it enough and knows exactly when to play it cool and when to play it tough.This is not the kind of film where performances are to be praised, but I've been so admiring of Connery's 'presence' in "Dr. No" that I think he deserves a few mentions here. Connery has a capability to find the right tone for the right moment, in a scene when he tries to break out of jail, look at the way he teases the guard, smiles at him and plays hide-and-seek, this is not out of character, this is a secret agent who also knows how to play a role. But look at his frightened expression when he see the gold-painted Jill or when he stares at that ominous laser, these are genuine moments where he can't really pull the tough guy facade. There are two Bonds playing, the secret agent and the man, and the trick is to always keep a fine line between both and when it comes to women, it's a whole different story.Bond is a man who seduces as much as is being seduced, and on that level, he's rather self-conscious, but he loves to play the game nonetheless and deliver his lines as if he really had to show more than his pretty face and athletic looks, there's got to be that little icing on the cake, the woman has to play 'hard to get', it's part of the game, and never has a preliminary been as sensual as the karate contest in the barn. The music is playful like a little interlude except that it plays on strength, on fighting skills as if Bond had to maintain his manly reputation on that level, as if Pussy Galore needed more than the little charming rhapsody. And why not, she's perhaps the most bad-ass Bond Girl, she flies a plane, leads a commando and she doesn't need to be naked to assert her sexiness, she's quite a match for Bond and she's one of the reasons the film works.In fact, I don't think of any Bond movies that succeed on every level: Bond, the villains, the girls, the song, the lines, the spectacular action, the high-scale super villain's scheme, everything. This is why "Goldfinger" is the film that really established Connery as the ultimate Bond. If only for "Goldfinger", Connery could never be matched. Action and seduction-wise, this is a Bond that would leave anyone shaken… not stirred.
